The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30) is a funding opportunity provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This award aims to support promising predoctoral students enrolled in a combined MD/PhD or other dual-doctoral degree training programs (e.g., DO/PhD, DDS/PhD, AuD/PhD, DVM/PhD) at institutions that do not have NIH-funded institutional predoctoral dual-degree training programs. The program is designed to enhance the integration of research and clinical training for students pursuing careers as physician/clinician-scientists.
This fellowship provides financial support for up to six years, covering stipends, tuition and fees, and an institutional allowance. The award is intended to support students during their mentored dissertation research training and clinical training, equipping them with rigorous research design, experimental methods, and data analysis skills. The program aims to increase the pool of highly trained physician-scientists and clinician-scientists engaged in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research.
Eligibility is restricted to individuals who have matriculated into a dual-degree program within the last 48 months before applying. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or permanent residents. Institutions eligible to apply must not have active NIH-funded institutional predoctoral dual-degree training programs at the time of application submission. Applicants must have identified a dissertation research project and a faculty sponsor or mentor, who will supervise their research training.
Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, using the NIH ASSIST system or an institutional system-to-system (S2S) solution. Deadlines for application submissions follow the NIH standard due dates, with cycles in December, April, and August each year. Applications undergo scientific peer review based on the quality of the candidate, research training plan, institutional environment, and overall potential to develop into an independent researcher.
The funding opportunity does not support independent clinical trials but allows applicants to gain experience in clinical trials led by a sponsor or co-sponsor. Awards are contingent upon NIH appropriations and a sufficient number of meritorious applications. Recipients must devote at least 50% of the award period to research training leading to a doctoral research degree. Institutions are required to provide a strong research environment with appropriate resources and mentorship to support the awardees.
For further inquiries regarding the application process, scientific aspects, or grants management, applicants are encouraged to consult the NIH Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements, and Staff Contacts. Additional guidance on the application process and submission requirements can be found in the NIH Research Training and Career Development website.
